BUFFALO (WBEN) - As the temperature is starting to drop in Western New York, there's growing concern among the health of the restaurant industry, as the expansion of outdoor dining has been a saving grace amid the pandemic.
In response, the Erie County Legislature has proposed using $1 million in CARES Act funding to use it as small grants to help restaurants buy supplies that would allow them to extend the outdoor dining period.
"This $1 million would be specifically be for materials like patio heaters, insulation, things like that, to allow restaurants to continue their outdoor dining into the colder weather," said Legislator Joe Lorigo. "(Restaurant owners) have told me this is a concern that they have, that the weather could turn as early as this weekend, and being that they can only be at 50% capacity inside, they're looking for every possible opportunity to continue getting revenue so that they can stay afloat."
Lorigo added that he'd like to see this proposal passed as soon as possible, noting that if he had his way, it would be done by the end of this week or next week, but he said that's likely a "pipe dream."
